Morning journal and courier., 1887-12-26
HIS FAREWELL SERMON

A Large Congregation Hear Rev. Spencer HI. Bray's Last Discourse at the Humphrey Street Congregational Church.
 Last night Rev. Spencer H. Bray preached his farewell sermon as pastor of the Hum phrey street Congregational church. Every seat in the auditorium was filled and several bad to take seats in the Sunday school room. MT. Bray chose his text the twentieth chapter of the Acts, beginning with the 18th verse.
 "Eleven years have been in the service of this church, ten being as pastor. I am very glad to have done ten years as pastoral work. That has been long time. But the end comes to all things. It is gladder to meet than to part.
 "The plainest of all preaching in the world has been preached here. A deep sermon is often presented in the most plain manner. I have not stunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God. If there is anything I despise it is not to preach what you mean. I have rebuked persons, some in this church. for which I understand I have been sharply criticised.
 Christian benevolence has had a promi- nent place in my preaching here. The poor have had the gospel preached to them as plainly and tenderly as I could. Every min ister, however, is surrounded by those who are in advance of his movements. My prayer to night is neither poverty nor riches. I have coveted no mans silver or geld, but I have -coHeted souls.--.~This coVeting has not been altogether in vain. have received into this church 142 persons on profession of faith, and together with those by letter over 20O One comfort is that of those 142 there is good evidence that they have the spirit of Christ and have not gone backward. Another com fort is that nearly all live. Only two, to my knowledge, have died.
 'Paul says: Ye shall see my face no more. D I know you shall see my face no longer as pastor. To those who have joined the church while I have been here, I will say that you can have ten thousand teachers, but you can never have but one spiritual body.
 "Paul says: That after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock I know the majority of the church are united brethren; put your selves on your guard. Satan hovers about on the outgoing of an old pastor and the in coming of 8 new one, especially if 8 long time intervenes. Brethren, be united. Stand together. Grind out any spirit of criticism that may arise.
 'I have never been pastor of church where the finances were more splendidly han dled than here. Keep the doors open, and God forbid the day when the sign outside will be taken down. Friends and brethren, I commend you to God. These years of work with you are ended. I leave you, per haps, forever. And Paul, when he had thus spoken, kneeled down and prayed with them all.' I commend you all to God and to the word of his grace"
 After his sermon the departing pastor kneeled and offered prayer. A quartette sang "Till we Meet at Jesus feet" There were few dry eyes in the congregation.
 After the morning service the members, at the request of Rev. MT. Bray, stayed and to them all he made statements of private and personal nature.
 In the evening he stated that he had re ceived no calls to the pastorate of any church, but he had been asked to do evangelical work in four different places. He intends to go to Mount Vernon soon to do this work for a short time.
 Hoods Sarsaparilla cures catarrh by ex- polling impurity from the blood. which is the cause of the complaint. Give it trial.